for extraordinary heroism in highly dangerous conditions.
Evan Tucker read off the citation listing their achievements not only in Syria but also in Canada. And then Reel and Robie came forward to accept their medals.
As Tucker presented the medal to Reel he hissed, “This is not over yet.”
“Clearly not,” she said.
When Potter gave the medal to Robie he whispered, “You need to choose sides on this, Robie.”
“So do you,” Robie replied. “And choose wisely.”
Robie and Reel walked out of the ceremony together. Outside, they were greeted by Blue Man.
“Thanks for the heads-up,” Robie said quietly.
“Just doing my duty.”
“Tucker isn’t taking this too well.”
“Hard to say how much longer he’ll be heading up the agency,” replied Blue Man.
“Days numbered?”
“They might be. He hasn’t been that stellar as a DCI.”
“You might want to consider the job.”
Blue Man shook his head. “No thanks. I’m broken down enough as it is.”
Robie and Reel drove out of Camp Peary and headed north. Neither of them spoke because neither had anything to say. The last couple of weeks had pushed them right to their maximum. They were both physically and mentally exhausted.
When they arrived back in D.C., Robie surprised her by saying, “I’ve got someone I want you to meet.”
He drove to the building and parked at the curb. About ten minutes later people started coming out of the building carrying large backpacks.
When Robie saw her he got out of the car and waved her over. Julie Getty approached cautiously.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“First you complain when I don’t come by, and now you complain when I do?”
Julie glanced in the car. “Who’s that?”
“Get in and you’ll find out.”
“Jerome is coming to pick me up.”
“No he’s not. I already phoned him and told him I was.”
They climbed in the car and Robie said, “Julie, Jessica; Jessica, Julie.”
The two women nodded at each other and then both looked questioningly at Robie as he steered the car into traffic.
“Where are we going?” asked Reel.
“An early dinner.”
Julie looked at Reel but she merely shrugged.
Robie drove them to a restaurant in Arlington. As they sat down to eat, Julie said to Reel, “How do you know Will?”
“Just a friend.”
“Do you work together?”
“Sometimes.”
“I know what he does,” she said bluntly.
Reel said, “So you know he can be a real pain in the ass, then?”
Julie sat back and a grin spread across her face. “I think I like you.” She looked at Robie. “Where is super agent Vance?”
“Doing super agent things, I imagine,” replied Robie.
Julie turned back to Reel. “So you do what he does?”
Reel bit into a roll. “We both do things a little differently.”
Robie said, “How’s school going?”
“Fine. What have you two been up to?”
“This and that,” said Robie.
“I read the news. I know what’s been going on in the world. Have you two been overseas lately?”
“Not lately, no,” said Reel.
“You lie as well as he does.”
“Yeah, right.”
“I’m being serious.”
She looked at him, saw that this was true. “I don’t think I can walk away, Robie.”
“Why not?”
“Because this is who I am. This is what I do. If I stopped...”